WEG: Official Horse Deals Coverage Week 1

Australian Showjumping Chef d'Equipe, Stephen Lamb makes off with one of the Official WEG Vehicles.

"Anything you can do I can do better". The last four horses in the class really upped the ante in the Grand Prix Special. The passage tour down the final centre line was a case of "top this" and Edward Gal and 'Moorlands Totilas' did with an extraordinary performance.

Even at Werribee Park there are seats for the trot up. It was literally standing room only at the Eventing First Veterinary inspection this morning.

Regular Great Britain Team member, William Fox-Pitt cut a dashing figure with the Hon. Mrs Teresa Stopford-Sackville's 'Cool Mountain' at the Eventing Trot up.

British Team fixture, Mary King trots in time with Mary Chinn and Mrs E Davies' impressive 'Imperial Cavalier' an Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier at the Eventing Trot Up.

All smiles for the cameras. Sonja Johnson and 'Ringwould Jaguar' both looked in great condition at the Eventing Trot Up this morning. "Jag" who does not often smile for the cameras, as he is always busy getting down to business, has settled in very well and is looking forward to the start of the competition; Sonja too.

Kathryn Ward's 'Vettori' smiles for the cameras, but Australia's Stuart Tinney looks a little serious in this shot. The first veterinary inspection must be a little stressful, as who knows if they have trodden on a stone on the way up. Thankfully none did and all Australian horses passed.

Australian Team members, Christopher Burton and Jean and Jade Findlay's "Holstein Park Leilani' captured the attention of the photographers during the Eventing first horse inspection.

It was good to get a look at Sam Griffith and 'Happy Times' in the flesh. Sam has not changed since he left Australia for England about ten years ago and Happy Times, owned by Sam, Dinah Ponsford and Juliet Donald looks Champion Hack material as can be seen in this picture of his beautiful head.

Australian team members and 2010 Badminton winners, Paul Tapner and the Thoroughbred gelding 'Inonothing' owned by Jenny Waaler in action during the Eventing first Veterinary inspection.

Australian Team newcomer, US based Peter Atkins sported and akubra for the occasion. Peter is pictured at the first Eventing veterinary inspection with his lovely nine year old, 'Henry Jota Hampton'.

One of the many pleasures of a World Equestrian Games is being able to watch the horse train. There are arenas scattered all over the park and you never know who you may come upon. Portugal's Daniel Pinto and the Luistano stallion, Galopin de la Font (Espanto MTV/Zorro mare) were pictured out for a bit of a constitutional this morning.

Canadian combination, Belinda Trussell and 'Anton' Antaeus/Melit mare) earned 67.20% in the Grand Prix Special for 25th place. .

Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster's groom, Helen Bray, shows the strain of those who have to wait and watch.

Although a little anxious to get going and another moment distracted by some movement in the stand at the end of the first half pass, Rachael Sanna was well pleased with her 67% in the Grand Prix Special. Bev Edward's Alabaster really did some super canter work and his passage/piaff tour is always a good earner. It was an impressive performance from both, but that is what we have come to expect from Rachael. They finished in 27th place. That's 27th in the World!

We just cant's get enough of these beautiful Andalusian horses. Jose Antonio Garcia Mena and 'Norte' by Cortesano VI earned 68% and 23rd place in the Grand Prix Special.

Roger Firzhardinge is a man of many talents. Today his has his photographer's hat/vest on.

Australia's Mary Seefried, looking appropriately serious was the President of the Ground Jury for the Grand Prix Special.

USA rider, Katherine Bateson-Chandler produced a good test aboard Jane Clark's Jazz gelding, 'Nartan' for a score of 68.87% and 19th place.

Michal Rapcewicz was the first ever Polish Dressage representative at the World Equestrian Games. He rode his own 'Randon' (Czuwaj/Famino mare) to take 15th place and a place in the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday Night with a score of 69.87%.

Australian Team farrier, Sandy Parker standing (or in this case sitting) by. Sandy has for quite a few years taken on the important job of looking after the Team horses footwear.

Why the long face?. The Victory Salute support crew, with owner, Carolyn Lieutenant in the middle don't look to happy. They should be as Brett Parberry and Victory produced a super Grand Prix Special to move in to the Freestyle on Friday night.

Brett Parbery produced a super Grand Prix Special riding Carolyn Lieutenant's 'Victory Salute'. They were hoping to make it through to the top 15 invitations to the Grand Prix Freestyle and they did it easily, coming home in ninth place with 72.16% and beating Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht in the process.

Christoph Koschel rode the beautiful stallion, 'Donnperignon' by Donnerhall to take sixth place in the Grand Prix Special with 73.29%.

Danish Princess, Natalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein may have been feeling the heat, but she nonetheless produced a good test with her Donnerhall gelding, Digby for seventh place with 72.87%.

Isabell Werth did not produce her best today with Madeleine Winter-Schule's big Weltmeyer gelding, 'Warum Nicht FHR). They finished the Grand Prix Special in tenth place with 72%, but do not count them out of the Freestyle medals just yet.

Steffen Peters rode beautifully to take the Bronxe Grand Prix Special medal with Akiki Yamazaki's beautiful and expressive Contango gelding, Ravel with 78.54%.

Before Kentucky Great Britain had never won a Dressage medal at a World Championships. Now thanks in great part to Laura Bechtolsheimer and her Danish Warmblood, 'Mistral Hojris' they have two Silver medals. Yesterday in the Grand Prix they produced a personal best score of 82.51% to help the British Team take the Silver Team Medal. Today they earned 81.78% with the crowd barely able to curb their enthusiasm as they came down the final centre line.

Spain's Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz and the Andalusian stallion, 'Fuego XII' really deserved a medal. The top four horses were in a class of their own and the stallion exuded talent especially for the Passage /Piaff, and charm and really put the pressure on his Northern bred peers. They were fourth in the Grand Prix Special with 76.04%.

Really in a class of their own. Edward Gal and 'Moorlands Totlas' again received a standing ovation with more than a few lucky spectators with a tear in their eyes. It was a beautiful and emotional experience, something many of us have never seen before. They earned 85.79% to take the Grand Prix Special Gold Medal.